Winter Solstice 2021
Happy Winter Solstice! This year marks the 22nd edition of artwork celebrating the spirit of the Winter Solstice (technically the 21st edition since 2000 was a generic holiday greeting with Winter Solstice overtones). The past year was again challenging and stressful due to the continuing pandemic as well as political and civil unrest. Since this time of year is for celebration and looking towards the light, I will not delve into events from the past year but, will get on with discussing this year’s Winter Solstice artwork.
This year’s illustration is a modern, digital still life in the style of the Flemish master painters from the 17th century which is considered the Golden Age of Dutch painting. Still lifes were a great opportunity for artists to display skill in painting textures and surfaces in great detail and with realistic light effects. Food of all kinds laid out on a table, silver cutlery, intricate patterns and subtle folds in tablecloths and flowers all challenged painters. Below is short history of the symbolism contained in this year’s illustration.
The symbolic meaning of the orange is obvious. Due to the color and shape, oranges are representative of the sun. They also carry connotations of good luck, life, energy, joy, and vitality. In parts of Asia and the Middle East, oranges are also considered a symbol of fertility. During the Winter Solstice children would be escorted from house to house with gifts of clove spiked oranges, and other fruits, which were placed in baskets of evergreen boughs and wheat stalks dusted with flour.
The Crusaders introduced oranges to Europe beginning in the 11th and 12th centuries, but since there were only certain areas of the continent where the local climate permitted their growth, oranges acquired special symbolism in territories where this was not possible. In parts of northern Europe, the expense and difficulty involved in obtaining fresh oranges, plus the fact that the fruit usually ripens in December, made them a popular choice for gifts and decorations at Christmastime, as a symbol of celebration and good fortune.
Pomanders, cloved spiked oranges or other fruits, were first mentioned in literature in the mid-thirteenth century. Fragrant orange pomanders are traditionally given as gifts on the Winter Solstice and Christmas to symbolize nature and the returning light. Cloves, in magical folklore, represent protection, prosperity and good luck. They belong to the fire element and are associated with the planet Jupiter.
I hope everyone has a wonderful Winter Solstice and a happy holiday season. Please enjoy the artwork and, as always, I look forward to hearing everyone’s feedback.